NEW DELHI, Aug 4: Though existing regulatory requirements mandate the inclusion of environmental studies in school curriculum, there is a need to incorporate responsibility practices beyond a particular subject to make it a living practice, says an expert.
According to Ajith Sankar, professor at PSG Institute of Management (PSGIM) in Coimbatore, it is important to incorporate responsibility practices beyond a particular subject.
Citing the example of the Education Department of a state in India disallowing the sale of junk food within school premises, he says “This decision is laudable. The students should be served freshly prepared meals, which are made from locally sourced ingredients that nourish their body, mind and spirit.
“Facilitating a student to choose, plant and nurture indigenous tree saplings help them to connect with the environment in a better way than forcing them to learn the definition of ecosystem by rote.”
He also says that a short-term focus on environmental issues is emerging from a state of partial knowledge and one who has experienced the pain from a needless accident will be careful to create an entire life that is free of accidents, not just a day that is free of accidents.
His book “Environmental Management”, published by Oxford University Press India, attempts to inculcate the need to understand the gravity of environment preservation, on a day-to-day basis while acquiring managerial knowledge at a post-graduate level.
It tries to create awareness about our fragile ecology and ecosystem as well as our rich biodiversity, and raises relevant environmental issues such as pollution, deforestation, global warming, and depletion of scarce natural resources.
Sankar feels that there is a need for creating a facilitating environment that leads to inspiring endeavours and just thinking that reactionary legal instruments alone can contribute to the well-being of the society would be immature.
Asked how important is teaching management professionals the significance of taking environmentally responsible business decisions so as to achieve a balanced business environment, he says the discussion on “balance” between business and environment is misguided.
“Business and economy are fully owned subsidiaries of the natural environment. If the planet is not there, there is no scope for any business enterprise. Ecology in balance is inherently about relationships in balance – inter-species and intra-species.
“Interdependent relationships that are in balance gives opportunity for imagination, creativity and innovation in business. Such a balance also expresses the abundance inherent in us, thereby contributing to the well-being of all, including businesses,” Sankar said.
He is of the view that the inherent spiritual values make India one of the global leaders in environmental sustainability, despite a large percentage of Indian population not understanding the technical aspects related to environmental issues and its impacts, and the population pressure that we have.
“Our environmental footprint and carbon footprint, on a per capita basis, is lower as compared to the nations that have achieved highest and higher economic growth,” he says.
“Few in India know the factors that constitute an ecological footprint, though many Indians experientially know the medicinal value of Amla, Neem and Tulsi. The culture has attempted to respect everything for its inherent nature, not just for its utility for human beings…”
On the poor conditions of rivers in India, he says, “A nation that has been eroded of its soul do not feel about the death of a river, cannot think about the causes that resulted in the river’s death, or do not implement actions that can nourish that river. Rejuvenate the soul of India – ‘Simple Living and Noble Thinking’, and rivers will regain their glory.” (PTI)
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